Run-resistant stocking tab

ABSTRACT

A stocking knit of thermoplastic yarn with a turned welt. A tab knit of thermoplastic yarn is knit to the welt and includes a group of intermediate courses in which stitches are heat fused with concatenating stitches to present a barrier to running. Terminal tab courses are removed by breaking the embrittled fused stitches of intermediate courses.

Unite States Patent John J. Miller Laconia, NJl-l.

June 6, 1969 Division of Ser. No. 703,949, Feb. 8, 1968, Patent No.3,488,981, which is a Continuation-in-part 01 Ser. No. 680,226, Nov. 2,1967, abandoned Aug. 31, 1971 Scott & Williams, llnc.

Laconia, NJHI.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee RUN-RES1STANT STOCKING TAB 1Claim, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 66/172, 66/173 lnt. Cl D041) 9/241, D04b 9/54 Field of Search66/169 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,032 8/1948 Kennedy66/172 2,484,293 10/1949 Hinch1iff.. 28/73 X 2,608,078 8/1952 Anderson66/202 X 2,715,762 8/1955 Schumann 66/202 X 2,747,390 5/1956 Reymes-Cole.1 66/173 2,811,029 10/1957 Conner 66/172 3,327,500 6/1967 Currier66/187 3,457,739 7/1969 Frand et a1.... 28/73 3,515,623 6/1970 Bates28/73 X FOREIGN PATENTS I 122,651 4/1967 Czechoslovakia 66/178 PrimaryExaminerWm. Carter Reynolds Anomey McNenny, Farrington, Pearne & GordonABSTRACT: A stocking knit of thermoplastic yarn with a turned welt. Atab knit of thermoplastic yarn is knit to the welt and includes a groupofintermediate courses in which stitches are heat fused withconcatenating stitches to present a barrier to running. Terminal tabcourses are removed by breaking the embrittlcd fused stitchesofintermediate courses.

PATENIEU AUGB] um SHEET 1 OF 6 INVENTOR JOHN J. MI LLAR mv mm mm OmATTORNEYS PATENTEU M183] 1971 3,602,013

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SHEEI 5 0F 6 INVENTOR JOHN J. MILLAR ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention is particularly directed to animprovement in the machine and method for stocking production describedin Currier Pat. No. 3,340,706 dated Sept. 12, 1967.

In accordance with this patent stockings are knit having the particularcharacteristic that toe pockets are produced by twisting fabric toeffect closure without recourse to the usual looping procedure. Forachievement of this type of toe pocket the stocking is preferably knitbeginning at the toe, the knitting then proceeding through the foot,heel and leg por tions, followed by the formation of a turned welt. Theturned welt comprises a pair of plies with the last knitted having itsfinal course transferred to the needles to close the welt. The operationcannot be terminated by this transfer, but knitting must be continued toform a short tab since otherwise the transferred stitches wouldimmediately open up. In accordance with the patent the tab is providedwith run-resisting structure and curls in such fashion that there issubstantial resistance to raveling. However, handling of the stocking inuse may initiate raveling causing disengagement of loops to the extentthat the raveling may reach the transfer line with resulting opening ofthe turned welt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, theantiraveling characteristics are augmented by using an electrical heaterto fuse a number of adjacent courses in the tab during the continuedknitting of the terminal tab courses. The yarns used during the knittingof the portion to be fused may be of any thermoplastic yarn having suchcharacteristics that upon the application of the requisite amount ofheat the yarns fuse and bond to each other while maintaining the basicstructure of the fabric. As a result of the embrittlement of the yarnsin this fused zone after the stocking is pressed off, the terminalportion of the tab knitted subsequently to the fused zone may be brokenloose and discarded and the fused zone will tend to curl up and besubstantially enclosed in the curl of the tab fabric.

The stocking may be knit in the fashion described in said Currier patentup to the formation of the tab. After transfer the knitting proceedswith run-resistant stitches and after a number of courses an electricalheating element is energized and inserted within the needle circleclosely adjacent the tab. Just prior to this, by cam selection theneedles near the heating element are drawn down and the sinkerswithdrawn for clearance purposes. The machine speed is reduced andtension is relieved so that the knitted corners of the fabric extendinginwardly from the needle circle assume a wavelike formation of peaks andvalleys. The applied heat then causes fusion of the courses adjacent theheating element with greater fusion and deterioration taking place atthe peaks to give the cf fect of a perforated tear line. Aftersufficient fusing, the needles are cleared and the fabric pressed off.The last knit corner or waste ring outward of the fused zone is theneasily removed and discarded and the natural curl causes the remainingtab to curl up so as to be almost unnoticeable.

In order to retain the knitted structure of the fabric in the fusedportion remaining on the tab after the waste ring has been separated, itmay be desirable to knit alternate courses of different types of yarn ofwhich one course is more readily fusible than the other. This may beaccomplished by utilizing one yarn having a lower melting point than theother yarn or it may be accomplished by utilizing one yarn of a lowerdenier and having the same melting point so that the lower denier yarnwill tend to fuse before the higher denier yarn.

The objects of the invention relate to the satisfactory achievement ofwhat has been outlined and various detailed objects will become moreapparent from the following description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A, 1B and 1C are successive portions,in sequence from top to bottom, of a vertical section taken through theknitting machine provided in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on a plane indicated at 2-2 inFIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection leading tothe heating element;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the arrangement of thefabric as formation of the selvedge takes place;

FIG. 5 is a development of the cams operating on the needles and jacks,showing other associated elements; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, showing particularly certainpneumatic elements of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Only so much of the knittingmachine is shown as is involved in the matters pertinent to the: presentinvention, and references may be made to the foregoing Currier patentfor other aspects of the machine and operation. This patent goes intodetail concerning the matters of formation of the twisted toe and theother portions of the stocking, including the formation of the turnedwelt, preceding the tab formation, which is the matter of concernherein. References will be made first to aspects of construction whichare essentially illustrated in said Currier patent.

The needle cylinder 2, driven for rotation and reciprocation, isprovided with slots slidably mounting the latch needles 4 provided withthe usual butts 5, the arrangement of which in the needle circle is asdescribed in the Currier patent. Individually located below the needlesin the same slots are the intermediate jacks 6 provided with butts 7,and beneath these are the usual pattern jacks 8 provided with theselectively removable butts l0 and with upper butts i2 and lower butts114, these jacks being of the tiltable type provided with fulcra at 16above which they are provided with ends 18 engageable by cams which tiltthe lower ends outwardly for selection. These jacks are selected notonly for conventional patterning operations but also to provide needleselection for various spe cial operations in makeup and the like. Theactuating cams for the selected butts 10 will be hereafter mentioned,without detailed discussion, however, of the conventional camcontrolling means.

A sinker dial 20 and a sinker ring 22, both mounted to rotate andreciprocate with the needle cylinder, mount the sinkers 24 which areprovided with the usual butts 26 acted upon by conventional cams mountedin the sinker cap 28. These sinkers provided with nebs and ledges areoperated in the usual fashions at the two feeds.

The latch ring of the machine is indicated at 30, and mounts the bracketarrangement which serves for the mounting of various parts as shown insaid Currier patent. The latch ring, as usual, is pivotally mounted sothat it can be raised, carrying with it the bracket and the partsmounted thereby.

A transfer dial 34 is slotted to mount the transfer elements 40. Theseelements 40 are formed of two members associated side by side. Theseelements are provided with butts, those associated with the longer buttneedles being high as indicated at 42 while those associated withshorter butt needles are low as indicated at 44. The differentiation ofbutts is merely to provide for the possibility of proper insertion andremoval of operating cams. The dial cap 36 mounts certain cams and alsothe outer cam ring 38.

Continuing the description of the basically conventional elements of themachine, reference may now be made to FIG. 5 showing in developmentvarious cams and other elements.

The latch ring is provided at the main feed with a throat plate 46 fromwhich yarns are fed from the usual feeding fingers of which only one isindicated at 48 in active position. Conventional yarn changing controlsare used as will be readily understood to substitute different weightsor types of yarn as desired. At the auxiliary feed a similar throatplate 50 is provided, and here also there are located the substitutableyarn feeding fingers of which only one is indicated at 52. Located atthese feed positions are nozzles 54 and 56, to direct blasts of airinwardly against the fabric which is produced, thereby controlling itsposition and providing desired tension.

Cams and other elements operating on needle butts are generallyconventional. A fixed cam 58 is arranged to raise needles to tuckheight, and this is followed by radially movable cams 60 and 62,respectively adapted to raise needles to cleared height and to lowerthem to welt level. A fixed cam 64 raises needles to tuck level. Themain feed center cam 66 is flanked by the forward and reverse stitchcams 68 and 70 and their respective landing cams 72 and 74. A cam 76following stitch cam 68 is arranged. to raise needles to tuck level.Another cam above this indicated at 78 may raise needles to a lowcleared level and this is followed by a cam 80 which may lower needlesto tuck level. Following this is a further cam 82 arranged to raiseneedles to cleared level. All of these cams 76, 78, 80, and 82 areradially movable.

A pair of separate cams 84 and 86 constitute jointly the stitch camarrangement at the auxiliary feed. Associated with the cam 86 is thelanding cam 88, which is followed by the cam 58 already mentioned.

A radially movable cam 90 is located beyond cam 64 to lower needles. Theusual switch cams 92 and 94, both radially movable, are provided. Thelowering picker is indicated at 96, while the raising pickers 98 and 100are indicated in inactive positions. It may be remarked that heelformation in accordance with the present invention is essentiallyconventional, though the sequence of heel formation is reverse, thelower or forward portion of the heel being first formed followed by theupper or rear portion. As specifically described in said Currier patent,the heel is formed single feed. It will be understood, however, thatconventional arrangements for two-feed knitting of the heel may beprovided.

The usual cams are provided at 102 and 104 for lowering the intermediatejacks 6 by action on their butts 7.

Conventional cam levers 106 are provided preceding the main feed for theselection of pattern jacks by action on butts 10 thereof. The cam levers106 rock the lower ends of the pattern jacks inwardly, and those whichare so rocked miss the jack raising cam 108 which acts on the butts 14of those pattern jacks which are not rocked inwardly. In similar fashionpattern selection levers 110 are provided between the main and auxiliaryfeeds and are associated with a jack raising cam 112. Jack guard cams114 and 116 are provided as usual. Cams 118 and 120 preceding therespective selecting cam levers 106 and 110 are arranged to engage theupper ends 18 of the pattern jacks to rock their lower ends outwardlyfor selection.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, the heating assembly comprises thestationary bracket 122 fastened to the latch ring. An H-shaped block 124carries the remainder of the assembly and is mounted in position bypivot pin 126 held in position by screw 128. By this arrangement theassembly may be adjusted and set to locate the heating element 134. Aslot is milled in the latch ring to provide space for the unit. Slide130 is movable in recessed parallel slots 132 in the block 124. Theheating element 134 is formed as a generally U-shaped loop swaged intotwo larger diameter parallel electrodes 136 that are inserted in brassterminal blocks 138 and clamped by screws 140. Conductor wire terminals142 are fastened to the terminal block 138 by screws 144. A fiberT-shaped member 145 provides an insulator between the terminal blocks138 and slide 130. Screws fasten the terminal blocks 138 and slide 130to the insulator 145 in a fashion to maintain the required insulation ofthe conductive metal components.

The operative position of the heating element 134, as shown in FIG. 1A,is adjustable in its position by stop screws 148 bearing against block124. Setscrew 150 holds the stop screw 148 in position.

A conventional Bowden cable 152, having a sheath secured to thestationary bracket 122, is tensioned by the usual connections operatedby cams on the main pattern drum to compress the spring 154 to move theslide assembly to operative position. The heating element 134 is movedradially outwardly beyond the needle circle to its inactive positionupon movements of the main pattern drum, as will be evident hereafter,by permitting the main cable to slacken so that spring 154 shifts theslide assembly outward.

The electrical connections are illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatingcurrent line terminals 156 are connectable through a main switch 158 tothe primary winding of a transformer 160 which is desirably of avoltage-stabilizing type to provide a regulated output from itssecondary to the variable inductor 162 which may be manually preset tosupply a voltage output, the adjustment being conventionalized as avariable tap 166.

The output is delivered through a normally closed switch 168 (connectedin the conventional stop motion elements of the machine) and through asecond series switch 170 to the stepdown transformer 172 which providesthe desired output, at low voltage, to the heating element which isconventionalized in FIG. 3 as a resistor. The switch 170 is closed atthe times when energization of the heating element is desired by cammingon the main cam drum of the machine.

The heating element 134 is desirably of a temperature resistant materialsuch as a nickel-chromium alloy and may be operated through theadjustment described at any temperature suitable to produce the desiredamount of fusing action.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 4, the sinker cap is slotted at 174 to providea mounting location fora stationary bracket 176. For sinker withdrawal asinker cam 178 is attached to a radially movable slide 180 extendingthrough the slot 174 and slide 180 is controlled and set in conventionalmanner from the main drum camming through the use of a Bowden cable 182ans stop screw 184. The sinker cam 178 is normally out of operation andis brought into operation to withdraw the sinkers just before theheating element 134 is brought into operatron.

Referring to FIG. 5 which shows the cam ring layout, at the same time asthe sinker cam 178 is actuated and prior to the introduction of theheating element 134, the needles in the area of the heater element 134are lowered by cam 62 to welt height, and remain at this level untilthey are elevated by cams 64 and 70.

As is shown in FIG. 4, after the sinkers and needles have beenwithdrawn, the heating element 134 is shifted into the active positioninward of the needle circle. At the same time, the tension on theknitted stocking is relieved so that the material naturally tends towrinkle and pucker to form peaks and valleys in the tab fabric 186 asindicated by the shading in FIG. 4. It will be understood that at thispoint transfer has already taken place and that portion of the tabfabric 186 has already been knit after transfer. The transfer orinterlocked courses are shown at 188, while 190 indicates the insideface of the leg fabric as it is gathered toward the upper edge andinwardly into the fabric receiving tube, the fabric being furtherindicated at 192.

The fabric tensioning system is in part shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and 1C.Tubular member 200 replaces the funnelshaped member 220 of said Currierpatent. Elongated ports 202 are provided opposite the suction sourceopening 204 in the cylinder raising tube 205. A clamp ring 206 servicesto maintain support and concentricity of the fabric tub 207, as well asproviding a closed end for chamber 208. Tubular member 200 is fastenedto the clamp ring 206 by screws 210. Tube 200, ring 206, and fabric tube207 are driven by, and rotate with, the needle cylinder.

A ring 212, fastened to the cylinder raising tube 205 by screws 214,serves as a closed end for chamber 216. Though suction may be applied atrequired times from ports 202 through chamber 216 to chamber 208, astationary flanged bushing 218 is supported by ring 212 and serves as abearing corresponding to 230 of the Currier patent. Fitting 218 and tube220 correspond to the members 223 and 226, respectively, shown anddescribed in the Currier patent.

Referring next to FIG. 6 which is a diagrammatic illustration of thepneumatic tensioning system, the suction source is represented by amotor-driven centrifugal blower shown at 230. The conventional portionof the system comprises suction tube 232, chamber 234 andfabric-receiving tube 220. After press-off the stocking is delivered tochamber 234. By operation from a main cam drum move, valve 236 is closedand door 237 is opened to drop the stocking into a collectingreceptacle.

To provide suction to the welt chamber 203, a branch tube 238 and valve240 are provided. During the initial part of welt knitting, a main camdrum move effects opening of valve 240 to divide the suction to both thefabric-receiving tube 220 and chamber 208. The setting of valve 240 isadjustable to secure a satisfactory tension on the welt, the adjustmentdepending upon the weight of the fabric.

Just prior to transfer, and to avoid hanging up of the fabric on thedial bits, valves 240 and 236 are closed, resulting in no tension beingapplied to the fabric. The tension is also eliminated by closure ofthese valves during the knitting of the tab. Immediately afterpress-off, valve 236 is opened to suck the completed stocking intochamber 234.

In addition to the tensioning on the welt by the suction, air underpressure flows through the nozzles 54 and 56 (FIG. to aid in positioningthe initial courses of the welt fabric into chamber 203.

In the production of a typical stocking, the operation from makeup tothe beginning of the welt is as described in said Currier patent andneed not be repeated. During this knitting tension is maintained on thefabric by suction through the tube 220, the valve 236 being open, whilethe valve 240 is closed.

The welt is begun in the fashion described in said Currier patent, andknitting thereof proceeds as therein described. However, using what hasbeen disclosed, following the initiation of welt knitting both valves236 and 240 are open and air jets are produced through the nozzles 54and 56 shown in FIG. 5. The result is that the loop of fabricconstituting the two tubular plies of the turned welt is introduced intothen maintained in proper condition in the region 208. In particular,proper tension is applied to the fabric as it is produced on theneedles.

Just before the transfer of loops from the dial elements to the needlesis to occur, both valves 236 and 240 are closed by a move of the maincam drum of the machine to interrupt the suction action. The purpose ofremoving tension just before tension is to avoid possible hanging up ofany portions of the fabric on the transfer elements. The suction nowremains off during the formation of the tab. In the preferred operationthe tab is knit two feed either with or without runresist structure ofthe type shown and described in said Currier patent. Of course, more orless feeds may be used depending upon the machine. While a run resiststructure may be preferable for its added effect, the principalprovision for raveling resistance is provided by the fusing action andthe run-resist structure is therefore of lesser importance. Generally,for both purposes of continuity and to provide a proper fused structure,it is desirable to continue the knitting with the heavier yarn of thetype used for the knitting of the welt. The use of a heavier yarn atthis point results in a better fused structure as well as greaterstrength. The yarn used may be of any fusible thermoplastic type,including any of the nylons normally used for the knitting of stockings.Alternatively, other thermoplastic yarns may be used and in differentcombinations as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

After transfer has been completed and the knitting of the tab begins, anumber of courses are knit before the heating element is brought intoactive operation in order to allow the transfer courses to move fartherinward from the needle circle. After a number of courses have been knit,the cam 17% is brought into operation to effect the special sinkerwithdrawal and the needles are brought down to the welt position in theregion where they pass the heater 134 as previously described. While theheater is in position, knitting is continued so that newly formedcourses move progressively beneath the heater to generally extend thewidth of the fused zone. Only after the heater is withdrawn is theknitting terminated and the stocking pressed off. With the tab fabricI86 regarded as an extension of the inner ply of the welt, each ply ofthe welt extends in both directions along the stocking from the transferor interlocked junction courses 1%.

Where the heating element 134 is moved into the active position, it isso located with respect to the fabric as to engage the high portions ofthe tab fabric. As has been previously mentioned, and as shown in FIG.4, because of the absence of tensioning, the fabric will tend to puckerto have a wavy configuration which is particularly advantageous in theoperation involved. As the tab nears completion, switch is closed toprovide the heavy current through the heating element 134 to bring it tothe desired temperature suitable for the particular yarns which areinvolved in the tab. Desirably, the knitting machine is also now sloweddown to permit the heating to be more effective. Generally, it has beenfound necessary to retain the heating element 134 at the particularfusing temperature set by the setting of the variant inductor 162 onlyfor a relatively short period of time, and usually, the minimum time isdetermined by one chain link or typically four revolutions of thecylinder on a typical machine.

During the fusing operation, the heater is positioned so as generally tocontact only the peaks of the tab fabric, although actual contact is notnecessary and if lower fusing temperatures are desired, the heater mayalso be positioned to contact all portions of the fabric. Under thecondition where the heater contacts only the peak portions, greaterfusing will take place at these points and preferably may result in agreater degree of melting so that because of the natural tendencies ofthe fiber, small openings may be melted into the fabric resulting in aneffect somewhat similar to perforations. However, it is important thatfusing be sufficient as to cause an actual adhesion if not completemelting of all the yarn in a continuous zone of several courses in thetab so as to positively prevent any raveling from beginning at thispoint. It will be understood that the fusing effects result in anembrittlement of the yarn which aids in removal of the waste ring, whichincludes unfused courses in the terminal portion, as describedhereinafter.

Following completion of the tab forming operation, pressoff is effectedby withdrawal of the yarns and clearing of all of the needles. The valve236 is then opened (valve 240 remaining closed) with the result that thepressed-off stocking is drawn through the tube 220 into the chamber 234.The knitting may then be immediately resumed by makeup for the nextstocking.

From the finished stocking there may be manually torn off the terminalportion of the tab to remove bulk. This may be accomplished, though notnecessarily at a definite course, by reasoning of the weakening of thestructure beyond the portion which serves as a selvedge, since the tab,as it comes off the machine, may be generally perforated as describedhereinbefore at various points and quite weak at the remainder so thatthis removal is simple. After the removal of this remaining portion orwaste ring of the tab, various yarn ends may be broken where the loopshave been severed. However, the presence of these ends will not causeany tendency to run even though the yarns at this point may not becompletely fused because the fusing takes place over a sufficient numberof courses that there will be sufficient fusion or adhesion betweencontacting yarns to positively prevent any raveling. Although this fusedportion may therefore appear somewhat rougher and less flexible, due tothe natural tendency of the tab fabric to curl, the residual portion.becomes rolled into a circumferential roll or curl so that the roughselvedge edge is well hidden and effectively protected against abrasionor other action which might tend to destroy the selvedge and thus permitraveling. 1

Although as heretofore described, it is not necessary to provide anyspecial yarn the portion of the tab to be fused, it may be desirable toprovide more selective melting or fusing of the tab yarns. This can beaccomplished by either simultaneously or alternate feeding of yarnshaving different melting characteristics. For example, assuming that thestocking is primarily knit of nylon, in the tab the nylon may be knitalternately with polypropylene yarn in two feed fashion, thepolypropylene having a lower melting point than the nylon.Alternatively, alternate courses may be knit of two types of nylon, forexample, Type 6 and Type 66. In this particular instance, the Type 6nylon melts at about 420 F. and Type 66 nylon melts between 445 F. and480 F. Polypropylene typically melts in the range of 325 F. to 350 F.,substantially lower than the melting point of the various nylons. Withthe foregoing construction, the lower melting point nylon may haveeither a higher or lower denier and since the structure may besupported, where the lowermelting point yarn is knit together with asimilar yam of higher melting point, the knit structure is maintainedeven if the lower melting point yarn is completely melted and fused tothe higher melting point yarn.

Another arrangement may be merely to mix yarns of the same materialhaving the same melting point but with one of the yarns having a lowerdenier. In this case, in view of the lower cross-sectional area and theconstant rate of heat input, the lower denier yarn will fuse or softenand reach a tacky state prior to the higher denier yarn which willtherefore retain substantially the full structure of the fabric.

The suctioning type tensioning means above described is the subjectmatter claimed in the application of John A. Currier, Ser. No. 680,224,filed Nov'. 2, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,529. The matter offormation of a tab selvedge described herein may be used without thespecial tensioning means, i.e. in conjunction with such aspects oftensioning as are involved in said Currier Patent.

What is claimed is:

l. A stocking of circularly knit thermoplastic yarn, comprising, fromthe toe end to the welt end, foot, heel, and leg portions respectively,one of said ends including two tubular plies of fabric forming acontinuous loop and joined together by interlocked courses at ajunction, one of said plies extending from said junction both indirections towards and away from the opposite end of the stocking, theother of said plies extending from said junction in a direction awayfrom the opposite end of the stocking and, in a direction towards theopposite end of the stocking, defining a tab terminating in a selvedge,

said tab including a first number of knitted unfused courses joiningwith and extending from said junction, a second number of successivelyknitted thermally fused courses, and a third number of successivelyknitted unfused courses forming the terminal portion of the tab, atleast some of the yarn forming said thermally fused courses being of thesame thermoplastic material as the major portion of the stocking, all ofthe yarn in said thermally fused courses being thermally treated to adegree sufficient to cause yarn adhesion by melting of all of the yarnin a continuous zone so as to prevent the initiation of raveling thereinand to effect sufficient embrittlement in such yarn to permit removal ofthe terminal portion of the tab by breaking the yarn loops of the fusedcourses without destruction of the stocking.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 02 Q13 Dated Angus: 3 9

lnvent fl John J. Millar It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 57 change "corners" to --courses-- Col. 1, line 63, change"corner" to --course-- Col. 5, line 52, change "tension" to --transferSigned and sealed this 11th day of April I972.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK AttestingOfficer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC BO376-P69 RM PO-1050 {10-69) eu S, eovennuzm rnm'rma OFFICE 19" O-JQl-JM

1. A stocking of circularly knit thermoplastic yarn, comprising, fromthe toe end to the welt end, foot, heel, and leg portions respectively,one of said ends including two tubular plies of fabric forming acontinuous loop and joined together by interlocked courses at ajunction, one of said plies extending from said junction both indirections towards and away from the opposite end of the stocking, theother of said plies extending from said junction in a direction awayfrom the opposite end of the stocking and, in a direction towards theopposite end of the stocking, defining a tab terminating in a selvedge,said tab including a first number of knitted unfused courses joiningwith and extending from said junction, a second number of successivelyknitted thermally fused courses, and a third number of successivelyknitted unfused courses forming the terminal portion of the tab, atleast some of the yarn forming said thermally fused courses being of thesame thermoplastic material as the major portion of the stocking, all ofthe yarn in said thermally fused courses being thermally treated to adegree sufficient to cause yarn adhesion by melting of all of the yarnin a continuous zone so as to prevent the initiation of raveling thereinand to effect sufficient embrittlement in such yarn to permit removal ofthe terminal portion of the tab by breaking the yarn loops of the fusedcourses without destruction of the stocking.